PA-CIVIL-WAR-L Archives

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Subject: Two Veterans
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 16:03:18 -0400

From "The Germantown Independent Gazette", Friday, January 27, 1905

TWO VETERANS PASS AWAY.

A Survivor of the War Tells a Plain Story of Fallen Comrades.

Written for The Independent-Gazette.

The grim reaper has again visited Ellis Post, No. 6, G. A. It., and gleaned an abundant harvest, eleven of the country's defenders having fallen since the last Memorial Day. During the week two have been added to the death roll, Charles D. Gentry, of the 114th Pa. Vols. (Collis' Zouaves), and Alfred Kephart, of the 198th Pa. Volunteers.

Many of the homes have been in mourning, and many vacant chairs tell of loved ones called away. Of the two last comrades to be carried to their graves, much could be written.

Who among us forgets the widowed mother of Comrade Kephart? No mother made a greater sacrifice than did this old Germantown heroine. Bereft of her husband, she gave her whole family, which consisted of five gallant boys, to defend the country she loved so well. Soon two of her boys fall and are laid away. One is battling at the front, one suffering agony in the Andersonville Prison. Our departed comrade, Alfred, was her baby boy-all that remained with her, and he, too, was offered for the country's cause.

Sarah Kephart has passed from earth to her reward, and only yesterday her son Alfred was laid away by loving comrades at our National Cemetery. Only two of this good old family survive.

The life of our departed comrade, Charles D. Gentry, of the 114th Pa. Volunteers, needs no eulogy-it is an open book. He was one of those noble, patriotic souls who was willing to give up everything for his country. The writer, on his annual visits to old historic Gettysburg, never fails to visit the Sherfy farm and place some little emblems where more than 160 gallant Zouaves were among the dead and wounded. There stands a portion of the famous old cherry tree, with a cannon ball imbedded in its trunk, as a monument to these gallant men who fought and fell.

It was right here that Comrade Gentry was laid low and carried to the rear. He recovered and lived a long and useful life.

It was here on the Sherfy farm that a number of our brave boys from old Germantown shed their blood, among them being Comrades John R. Water-house and H. S. Strouse. Both, after living useful lives, have passed away.

The gallant Captain Frank Elliott, still fresh in our memories, was less fortunate-his remains repose in an unknown grave where he fell at Chancellorsville. Collis, gallant Collis, the first commander, has gone down, too. His remains repose in the pretty National Cemetery at Gettysburg, in a spot selected by himself. Brave and loyal Zouaves-few remain to tell the story of the deeds of heroism during the bloody contest of '61-'65.

To-day we take the last look at our old Zouave comrade, C. D. Gentry, and consign his body to its final resting place in pretty Ivy Hill Cemetery, where scores of little Post 6 flags float over the silent mounds where comrades rest.

"They have slept their last sleep,

They have fought their last battle."

N. K. P., Post 6. [Naaman Keyser Ployd]

Germantown, January 20, 1905.

Gene Stackhouse, Germantown
Happiness is a full beer fridge.

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